PROBLEM ONLY SOLVED BY WORKING TOGETHER

FURTHER to the debate emerging on these pages regarding the Community
Drug Forum.

I wish to respond to both Mr Jacobs' and Mr Ryan's (The Border Mail,
February 14) views and strongly refute the suggestion that this
approach is biased towards any single model of combating drug abuse.

Just to get the facts straight, the organising committee includes
bi-partisan representation from education and prevention, law
enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation providers.

The evening community forum will include local presentations from
each of these perspectives and also include a view from a community
representative with first-hand experience of drug issues on the
Border.

Prof Margaret Hamilton, as the executive director of Turning Point,
the peak provider for research, training and clinical practice around
drug issues in Victoria, has been asked to give the keynote address.

We have requested her address be based on the facts and figures here
and internationally, and asked her to give examples of some
strategies that appear to be working at a community level.

Following the keynote and local addresses, the workshop groups will
allow open discussion and written recommendations as to strategies
and further actions that will address the issues for our local
communities.

Every participant at the forum will be part of these workshop groups.

The whole concept of this forum is as a starting point for community
debate and action.

As a committee we are very aware of divergent views around the issue
of drug use and abuse, but are united in saying loudly that any
progress in preventing, controlling and treating drug problems will
only be achieved by working together, not by having a narrow or
single-strategy approach.

Finally, I would like to commend The Border Mail on their
well-balanced, sensitive and comprehensive editorial and journalistic
coverage of the issues to date.

"Drugs in our community" is a topical subject attracting many diverse opinions.

It is for all of us to respect diverse views and to work together on
these issues for our region.

NICOLA MELVILLE, Chief executive officer, Upper Hume Community Health Service